The longtime Elon staff member was recognized for welcoming newcomers to the association, promoting and encouraging member involvement.
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Vickie Somers, Elon University’s director of auxiliary services, received the National Association of College Auxiliary Services South Regional Mentor Award this fall from the largest national organization representing university auxiliary services professionals.
The award recognizes a member in the South Region who has shown initiative in welcoming newcomers to the association, and who has promoted and encouraged member involvement at the regional and national level.
Twelve states make up the South Region. Somers was nominated by Melissa Moore, director of communications at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Moore described Somers as a “welcoming person” and that she “shows ingenuity, originality and cleverness in her approach to what she does.”
Colleagues at the University of Georgia and Savannah State University wrote letters of support as well.
“The award was very much a surprise to me,” said Somers, who has served the association in a variety of leadership capacities, including as president of the South Region. “When I first began my career in purchasing at Elon and started my professional development, I was fortunate to have a mentor who was the director of purchasing at Duke University, Bill Haas.
“Bill encouraged me to attend professional conferences and to be involved, introduced me to the leaders in the field, made sure I had plans for dinner while attending the conferences, and more. This made an impression on me and I thanked Bill many times for taking time to mentor me. Bill told me the way to thank him was to do the same for others, which I’ve tried to do.”
Somers received the award Oct. 24 at the NACAS South regional breakfast, which is part of the NACAS Annual Conference. She has been a member of the Elon University staff since 1975.